Off the shelf: library news by Prosser branch staff
Storytimes are held every week in February. Preschool storytimes are held at the Prosser McDonalds on Wednesdays at 11:00 a.m. in the play area; Baby & Me storytimes are held at the Senior Center on Fridays at 11:00 a.m. For more information, visit our website at www.midcolumbialibraries.org. (Record-Bulletin, Prosser, 1/28/15)

IRS makes fewer forms available for library customers
Because of Internal Revenue Service cutbacks, Snohomish and Island County residents seeking printed tax forms will find fewer of them in their community libraries. “Some basic forms will be available, but even the number of those will be limited,” said Terry Beck, information services manager for Sno-Isle Libraries. Forms available in the library will include 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ, as well as some tax-help publications. Beck said customers at their 21 community libraries can use their computers to access the IRS forms online, then make free copies using their printers. For more information, visit their website at www.sno-isle.org/taxtime. (The Edmonds Beacon, Mukilteo, 1/29/15)Read the rest of this entry »

Library starts year with expanded hours, more staff
The Quincy Public Library has expanded its library hours and staffing. The new hours are Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Friday & Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and Sunday 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. There are now three fulltime librarians: Nikki Urwin, Dottie Van Baugh, and Schiree Ybarra. (Quincy Valley Post Register, Quincy, 1/8/15)Read the rest of this entry »

At the Upper Skagit Library
This article provides information to the community about Upper Skagit Library activities. The library thanks the community for contributing to the Winter Food and Book Drive. One-on-One tutoring is being offered on the first and third Fridays of each month. The tutoring focuses on basic computer skills, resumes, cover letters, and job applications. Call the library (360-853-7939) to schedule an appointment. The library has new hours: Tuesday and Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Upper Skagit Library Board meetings have been rescheduled to the second Thursday of each month in 2015. (Concrete Herald, Concrete, 1/–/15)Read the rest of this entry »

Why buy when you can borrow?
I had a recent dentist appointment and as I sat in the waiting room, I read a novel on my e-reader. A woman sitting near me asked me how I could read on “that newfangled thing.” When she learned that I was a librarian, she was surprised. “Don’t these things take away from your business at the library?” “We are busier than ever,” I assured her. People are often surprised at how many borrowing options there are in the King County Library System. Visiting the ebook and downloads page at www.kcls.org/downloads/ shows the options between books, audio downloads, magazine downloads and video and music. Staff members are happy to help with your download questions. You can visit a library or call Ask KCLS staff at 425-462-9600. With your library card and an internet connection, you can borrow any number of titles and formats to suit your needs and interests. Some of the best things in life really are free. This is a synopsis of an article written by Darcy Brixey, teen services librarian with the Bellevue System. (Bellevue Reporter, Kent, 12/26/14)Read the rest of this entry »

South Everett library gets noisy for 25th bash
The Evergreen Branch library celebrated its 25th anniversary on Wednesday, Dec. 10. The library was built in 1989 as a way to give South Everett, a hotly growing area in the 1980s under Mayor Bill Moore, an access point for books and library services. Nowadays, it is widely acknowledged the library has outgrown its space. The library’s expansion plans, though, were halted earlier this year because of the city’s belt-tightening budget process, a library board member said last week. An architectural firm already had been contracted in 2013 to sketch out the expansion. (Everett/Mukilteo Tribune, 12/17/14)

Book donations for Toybox
Librarian Nichole Kopp delivers book donations to Jim Krouse at the Colfax Fire Department for the Firemen’s Toybox project. Friends of Whitman County Library provided a drop site at the Colfax Branch for new books and toys for the annual drive hosted by the Colfax Fire Department. Colfax Thrifty Grandmother’s and others donated new books which were available to youngsters in the drive. (Whitman County Gazette, Colfax, 12/18/14)Read the rest of this entry »